Ender in Exile 507
stoolpigeon writes "Orson Scott Card's work Ender's Game began as a novelette, which he says he wrote as a means of leading up to the full story he had developed, Speaker for the Dead. Ender's Game was published as a full novel in 1985, and won the Hugo and Nebula awards (as did Speaker for the Dead in '86 and '87). I think it is safe to say that Ender's Game is ensconced in its position as a science fiction classic. Now, 23 years later, Card has finished the first direct sequel to Ender's Game in his new novel Ender in Exile."
Keep reading for the rest of JR's review.
While Speaker for the Dead was published right after Ender's Game, there is a huge gap in time between the two stories. Due to the effects of traveling at close to light speed, thousands of years pass between the two novels. Chapter fifteen of Ender's Game does give an explanation of the events that fill that time. Card also went on to write other novels set in the Ender universe that do not involve Ender directly but rather other students from the battle school and family. This makes Ender in Exile more of a 'midquel', a term Card uses in the afterword, than a sequel. Because of this, from a high level view of the plot, readers who have stuck with the saga will not find much new here. This is a closer look at events already related in other books for the most part. | Ender in Exile | |
| author | Orson Scott Card |
| pages | 377 |
| publisher | Tor Books |
| rating | 7 |
| reviewer | JR Peck |
| ISBN | 978-0765304964 |
| summary | A good midquel in the Ender's series |
Card is an able author and this story is solid. Much of it reminded me of some of my favorite classic science fiction. There is colonization, extended periods of life aboard space ships, discovery of alien civilization and not much in the way of hard science. Card's primary purpose is to analyze and consider the human condition as opposed to exploring technological possibilities or theories. Almost everything that is highly advanced is the result of alien technology and is never explained or understood. Much of it functions on an almost mystical or magical level.
Ender is a young adolescent with an incredibly unique life and mind. In this novel we see him transitioning and growing from a youth into a man. I was often reminded of Herbert's Paul Atreides when he was first on the run in the desert with his mother in the book Dune. Ender is aware that he is different and has amazing capabilities but he is unsure just what the full ramifications of that difference are. He is trying to find his place in humanity and in the universe as a whole.
The story encompasses four basic plot lines that flow one to the next. I never felt any great sense of urgency or climax and resolution in the story. Really what it felt like was a thread weaving together pieces from the earlier stories. While the themes and issues were great, sometimes the characters were remote or the working of the issues very subtle. The most impacting and emotional moments relied upon knowledge of events from the other books in the series to carry their full force. In that light the novel is very effective. I think that fans of the Ender series, already biased towards this work, are going to be very pleased and enjoy Ender in Exile greatly. They are going to get to dig just a bit deeper into this world and it's primary character Andrew Wiggin. They will enjoy moments of discovery and the answer to questions that may have been in the back of their minds, possibly for the last twenty years or so.
On the other hand, someone new to the series may not be as enthralled and may find the story to be a bit flat. If I could I would rate this book in two ways. For those who have not read all the other Ender books, a 6 or 7. This is not bad since the book is designed to sit in the middle of an existing set of tales. It is possible that someone could pick this book up without having read a single Ender story or novel and track with it. I think they would even find it interesting if a little flat. But for a fan of the series with a high degree of familiarity with the characters and events of this world it is probably a solid 8 or 9. At the very least, Card has done nothing to tear down what he has built up but has completed a sturdy addition to the body of work.
In the afterword Card has some interesting comments to make about reader involvement in helping him to write this story. He also explains how he would like to approach some discrepancies between this story and what is related at the conclusion to Ender's Game. I thought it was a sign of the times that an author, facing a large and complex world he had created but could not track on his own, was able to use the internet to call upon readers assistance in achieving as much consistency as possible.
This is a thoughtful, well written book. It may even motivate some to dig up an old copy of Ender's Game so that they can relive the enjoyment of a classic and see what is new to find. I think that most will not be disappointed. Some may not be as thrilled as they would hope, but there is something here for any science fiction fan.
On a side note, in conjunction with the release of this new book, Marvel Comics is doing a limited series comic adaptation of the original Ender's Game novel.
You can purchase Ender in Exile from amazon.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
Nope, sorry (Score:2, Interesting)
Much as I enjoyed the Ender series, Scott Card has revealed himself [examiner.com] to be a massive douche. I'm not buying or reading his books anymore.
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:2, Interesting)
For me it peaked at the initial novelette, which I did think was very good. I read a couple of the books but I didn't find them interesting.
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:2, Interesting)
I can't fathom giving money to a man that uses his speaking platform to try to say I'm subhuman or that I'm defying God.
I don't like books by Bigots. (Score:1, Interesting)
Sorry. I just do not.
Rich Irwin.
Those are usually pretty light. (Score:5, Interesting)
The problem is that as you get further and further away from current science you end up more and more in the realm of "magic".
And if the writer is resorting to that, then the story is probably going to be pretty light and dependent upon plot contrivances to get the writer out of any corner he ends up writing himself into.
In the fountain of youth example, it could matter. How available is the process? Is it possible to restrict who gets it? What about pricing? Would there be wars over it with eternal youth offered as the plunder? Or is the secret something anyone can cook up in their kitchen using dandelions and shower scum?
Light stories are good for obvious moral statements (think "Twilight Zone"). But they tend to fall apart on anything longer.
The more basic the change is (eternal youth) the more ramifications it will have on society. And the less likely the writer will have addressed them. Or even thought of them.
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:4, Interesting)
Much as I enjoyed the Ender series, Scott Card has revealed himself [examiner.com] to be a massive douche. I'm not buying or reading his books anymore.
Go to the article you listed and notice that the first highlighted section says "mortal enemy" in it. If you go to the article it links to that was written by Card, this paragraph is not to be found in it. Could it be a case of someone distorting what he said? Hmm...
Card is not a favorite here because
1) He's against gay marriage.
2) He's one of the very few popular writers who admits (gasp!) to being a Christian.
3) He's not a flaming liberal.
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:3, Interesting)
you can enjoy someone's work without condoning their lifestyle
Ironic given that Orson Scott Card has advocated the violent overthrow of the government due to his bigotry and hatred of gays (outright disapproval of their lifestyle). What makes you think that he deserves anything better from us?
Besides, he's written many best selling books. He's filthy stinkin' rich because of his opinion and his writings.
A popular opinion is not an opinion based on the truth. There was a time when the general sentiment of the country was for slavery and after that segregation. We see those times as backward and shameful.
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:3, Interesting)
The Homecoming series is a thinly-veiled rewrite (and interpolation) of the first part of the Book of Mormon (Card is Mormon). I didn't really like them from a literary standpoint.
On the other hand, they helped me see the works I'd been raised to believe were the word of God in an entirely new light--I'm also atheist now.
Now I know why an "Ender's" film will never be (Score:3, Interesting)
no one in Hollywood would risk offending the "gay" mafia nor would they dare go up against the inevitable boycotts and protests.
And I agree!
Would you buy a painting, no matter how great, from Hitler? (He was an artist when he was quite young I understand). Knowing his views, I certainly wouldn't and I'm neither gay nor Jewish!
This isn't a case of being P.C., it is a case of just being C.
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:2, Interesting)
The weird thing is Card wrote one of the gayest, and I mean that in a good way, books in Songmaster, which was basically a story about an old dude and his young, chemically castrated boy-lover. Also, as far as I know, Card is a Mormon, not a straight-mainline Evanagelical Christian. See his book Saints to see how he pretties up some of the weirdness of the Mormon founders (I'm looking at you Joseph Smith!)
Anyway, Xenocide was almost unreadable, and the Shadow series devolved into moralistic children pretending to be adults. His ability to talk about how teenagers think or feel is remarkably repressed. No urges or desires here, thank you! Bean doesn't even have sex with Petra. Card seems to place celibacy as some sort of purifying state, but has a hard time reconciling that with the need to pro-create.
Where Card seems to be at his best is when telling the story of a young boy (Ender's Game, Alvin series 1-3, first Shadow book). He doesn't seem to really understand politics as practiced by mature, and slightly less pure, adults.
Anyway, give Songmaster a read and you might start wondering why Card gets all huffy about gay people, maybe some sublimated feelings there, Mr. Happily Married Man? Still there are worse authors out there.
Just my 2Cents,
A
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:4, Interesting)
I think he's an annoying editorial writer with back-asswards views, but this atheist can still enjoy his works.
I find his personal politics abhorrent, but I can't really find any fault with how those views may be expressed in his works. I mean, his personal politics are quite absolutist and shallow, yet in his books we have people of differing opinions trying to make moral and practical choices in extremely difficult situations, and often pay a heavy price for whatever choice they do make. It's the depth of the moral conflicts in the books that interested me.
That said, I only found out about his personal politics after having already acquired and read as many of his books as I cared to (because it seemed the quality was dropping off). If I was going out to buy Ender's Game for the first time today, knowing what I do about the author, I may reconsider the purchase.
Such distortions (Score:2, Interesting)
'What these dictator-judges do not seem to understand is that their authority extends only as far as people choose to obey them.
How long before married people answer the dictators thus: Regardless of law, marriage has only one definition, and any government that attempts to change it is my mortal enemy. I will act to destroy that government and bring it down, so it can be replaced with a government that will respect and support marriage, and help me raise my children in a society where they will expect to marry in their turn.'
He says quite clearly, 'Seen in this context, we are fools if we think "gay marriage" is the first or even the worst threat to marriage.
We heterosexuals have put marriage in such a state that it's a wonder homosexuals would even aspire to call their unions by that name.'
He's quite clearly against adultery, "no-fault" divorce, child abandonment, and cavalier attitudes towards the welfare of children as it relates to marriage. You'd find the same moral reasoning on marriage form anyone in communion with the Vatican, while you'd find the same political reasoning on government abuses by replacing "marriage" with "net neutrality" or "BitTorrent" on a random message board. He says you ought to raise your kids, they deserve a mom and a dad who believe in their marriage, and the government can take a long walk off a short pier if it wants to force people's kids to go to school and indoctrinate them into a definition of "marriage" that he sees as positively Orwellian doublespeak.
That's not a "hateful," "extreme," or "wingnut" position, unless we've truly reached the cusp of newspeak.
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:3, Interesting)
Being homosexual is not the sin, engaging in homosexual acts is the sin. Same thing with being an alcoholic, drug addict, possessed of a homicidal temper, etc. It's the performance of those actions that have been labeled as sins by the faith you belong to that are the sin, not the desire or inclination to perform them in most judeo-christian denominations. The ACT is the sin.
Now, I don't personally agree with his definition of right and wrong, nor do I agree with all of his politics. However, that doesn't mean that I should go looking through all of his written works trying to find reasons not to like them in order to bolster my belief that my opinions are correct and his are false and demonize him for it. It's self aggrandizing reinforcement of your own perceived moral superiority.
If you read his columns regularly instead of just googling for bits a pieces to trot out as evidence of his "vileness" you'd see that he has homosexual friends and has a fairly compassionate view of the gay community and individuals despite his stated belief in the doctrines of Mormansim. He's a playwright for Chris's-sake. The theatre is where he got is start writing if I remember correctly. The theatre has been a bastion of homosexuality since time immemorial. If he really had the aversion to homosexuals that you seem to be implying, I find it hard to believe he'd have pursued a career that would have put him in contact with so many of them over the years.
I get the impression that your big problems with Card is that you disapprove of the religious belief that homosexuality is a sin while he does not, and you disapprove of his support for the Bush administration. Both of those are perfectly acceptable reasons to disagree with, or disapprove of Card as a person, but neither of them are relevant to the evaluation of the quality of his literary work. They are tangential, and inappropriate within the context of a book review.
The human brain is a connection making machine. Superstitions started because of the fact that a lot of the time, the connections are correlation and not causation. If you develop a negative opinion of an authors beliefs it's guaranteed that you'll find evidence within their written work that you can use to say their writings are propaganda. That doesn't mean you are necessarily correct. In my Freshman writing class we had to read through children's stories for the underlying themes. The prof. implied that she wanted wild explanations for the themes. Consequently most of the class found themes of bestiality, rape, pedophilia, etc because that's what they were looking for, not because the authors of those children's tails wrote them with the intention of turning the children into perverts.